The newspaper "Al-Jumhuriya" reported: A horrific crime shook Metn and Lebanon yesterday, as the pharmacist Leila Rizk was found murdered inside the Al-Mrouj pharmacy with the cash register empty. Security forces and forensic evidence teams immediately arrived at the scene, and investigations commenced to uncover the details surrounding the crime. Regarding the specifics, the head of the pharmacists' syndicate in Lebanon, Joe Saloum, revealed to "Al-Jumhuriya" that "the victim was slaughtered around 4 PM yesterday inside her pharmacy," confirming that "a theft occurred," but preferred to await "the investigations to unveil the circumstances of the crime."
Professor Michel Moawad, Chairman of the Board of Al-Jumhuriya and a candidate for the Orthodox seat in Metn, condemned this heinous crime, demanding the swift identification, arrest, and prosecution of the perpetrators with the severest penalties. He urged security agencies to intensify efforts to restore security and stability throughout Lebanese regions, particularly in Metn.
Additionally, this year's Easter arrives while Lebanon, stricken, looks to the heavens, hoping for resurrection anew. The holiday this year feels sad; the joy is stolen, and the Lebanese people are despairing and resigned to an unknown fate. Amidst their hunger, pain, and lost security, groups dance over the deep crisis, denying them their right to salvation and exit from the darkness of the crisis, while negating their roles in oppressing, subjugating, and impoverishing them, shaking the foundations of the country, simply to buoy themselves on the surface of power and politics.
The holiday arrives, and the suffering intensifies, with Lebanon threatened by overwhelming darkness, politically, financially, economically, and in terms of daily life. With the sparring and mutual hatred, the light does not seem to surface in the crisis tunnel; none of the powerholders exhibit even minimal responsibility, instead remaining steadfast in their policies that deteriorate the country's structure, strangling every hope of relief, pushing the nation back into servitude to their whims, and tossing them onto a gambling table that jeopardizes their fate for their failed agendas and destructive mentalities, threatening to erase the country from the map, leaving no spot even on the international sidewalk.
**Populism Characterizes the Current Phase**
The occasion of the holiday, instead of being a chance for rational discourse to contribute to launching a collective journey for serious and responsible inquiries into the healed homeland, was met with a determination to ignore the value and sanctity of this occasion. This was marred by a discourse filled with emotion and deep populism, manipulating tensions and heating all political fronts as the electoral deadline approaches in 26 days.
The Easter sermons diagnosed the status quo in Lebanon. The Maronite Patriarch, Cardinal Mar Bechara Al-Rahi, stated in his Easter Mass sermon that "Lebanese have the right to transition to a resurrection era, but their hearts are filled with sorrow as they feel the authority's inability to address their pains, wounds, and tragedies. We see most political figures responsible for the nation and the people behaving not to relieve the burdens of the Lebanese but to affirm them."
Al-Rahi noted that "the Lebanese people are nailed to the state, waiting for it to save them through good governance and sound national choices alongside productive reforms. Real Lebanese do not seek a substitute for the state, nor do they want it to have a partner. They yearn for the moment when hands are lifted from Lebanon, domination recedes, oppression falls, politicization and obstruction of judicial and administrative processes ends, and public interest rises above all private and electoral interests... so that only one Republic, one legitimacy, one weapon, one decision, and one unified Lebanese identity remains."
He emphasized that "it is unacceptable, under the pretext of saving Lebanon, to alter the identity of its national economic system, which is not subject to any constitutional settlement or political compromise." He added: "For reforms to fully materialize, they must be accompanied by the state's authority over its territories, unifying arms and decision, in compliance with Security Council resolutions, and adopting strategic choices that boost Lebanon's relations with its Arab surroundings and the democratic world."
As Gulf states gradually return to Lebanon to contribute to its revitalization, it is imperative to respect the sovereignty of these countries and maintain good relations with them, halting campaigns against these brotherly nations, especially since such campaigns have no relation to Lebanon's interest but are tied to the interests of foreign states."
On the other hand, the Archbishop of Beirut and its surroundings for the Greek Orthodox Church, Metropolitan Elias Audi, stated, "In our country, we find the officials washing the brains of their followers, shaping laws according to their whims to keep the people under their control, causing them mandatory blindness to prevent them from realizing that salvation may come through others."
He added: "Freedom must always be preserved, for it is a gift from God and not a favor from anyone. A person must use their freedom wisely and rationally, exercising their right without infringing upon the freedoms of others. Here, I wish to affirm to all our children that they must fulfill their national duty freely and responsibly, unaffected by anyone, and that the Church does not support any candidate over another, as it respects the freedom of its followers."
He concluded with: "The biggest test we face today is whether our people possess the will for change and strive for it or will they recede and choose the old they are accustomed to? In that case, they will bear the responsibility for their choice and will not find a listening ear for their grievances, nor will their lamentations resonate in the hearts of their listeners because they willingly chose their fate."
**Political Sermons**
In the same context, various spiritual sermons and the political sermons that accompanied them delivered a set of fiery messages rolling in different directions, releasing what factions of internal division held against each other. They simultaneously reflected each party's need to tighten their ranks under any pretext to invest in the elections set for May 15.
**Aoun: "The Duo"**
In this aspect, President Michel Aoun condemned the "Duo" of Amal Movement and Hezbollah for obstructing judicial appointments related to the heads of the Court of Cassation without naming them. He stated in response to a question regarding these appointments and a statement by the Minister of Finance speaking of "a fundamental error": "There is no fundamental error, but there is an obstruction, and you must know who is obstructing; they should stop lying to you."
When asked what he would say to the families of the Beirut Port victims who attempted to meet him and do not yet know who exploded their city, he replied: "They should address the obstructors of justice; you all know who the obstructor is. Who suspended the Cabinet?"
**The Accusation is Rebuffed!**
While there has been no direct response from "the Duo" to the President, sources from this faction affirmed to "Al-Jumhuriya" that the President can say whatever he pleases, but this does not change that he is aware of the real reasons for the judicial issues involved with the heads of the Court of Cassation. He is also aware of all the ambiguities surrounding the judicial investigation into the Beirut Port explosion, and such facts cannot be obscured by attempts to mislead by accusing others of obstruction. In summary, the accusation is nothing more than a rebuttal, no more and no less.
**Jumblatt Attacks Hezbollah**
While the political and electoral rhetoric exchanged between "the Free Patriotic Movement" and "the Lebanese Forces Party" reflects the true relationship between them and their shared history of confrontation—on which all current and future skirmishes between the two parties hinge—what is noteworthy is the Progressive Socialist Party increasing the tempo of political confrontation with Hezbollah and the Presidency through "the Free Patriotic Movement."
In this context, party leader Walid Jumblatt announced in a speech to expatriates that they have not abandoned the demand to disarm Hezbollah, asserting that it is impossible to sustain this weapon outside of state control, but he will not proceed with theories of disarming by force, as this is impossible and would embroil them in a civil war, stating that this weapon is Iranian.
He also pointed out that "if we gain the majority in the Parliament, we can impose our word, so will they kill us? Hezbollah does not believe in dialogue, and we have noted this from Rafik Hariri to Luqman Salim. But we must approach with calm nerves and confront."
Jumblatt warned that "Gebran Bassil will attempt, through the Foreign Ministry, to hinder the smoothness of the elections, and a team working under him will head to the diaspora to seize essential links, including the United States, Canada, and Australia." He stated that "everything Bassil and President Michel Aoun do aims to lift sanctions off Gebran. Regarding border demarcation, they insisted on line 29, but today they changed their minds, and they will do everything to satisfy the Americans and Israelis."
**The Movement and the Party**
Conversely, sources within "the Free Patriotic Movement" told "Al-Jumhuriya" that they are "facing a long series of lies and slanders by parties that refuse to acknowledge their size, having for many years represented a model of corruption, malfeasance, and subjugation, and soon we will have candid words." Meanwhile, informed sources on Hezbollah's stance told "Al-Jumhuriya" that "the party understands Walid Jumblatt and knows what he wants, and given his shifting stances, you can expect from him both one thing and its opposite simultaneously, so the party will not reply to his statement, which may stem from anger and agitation due to an electoral insect that torments him, and a genuine concern that he may not retain the Druze representation and lose more than one parliamentary seat, thereby failing to maintain the size of his parliamentary bloc as it currently stands."
**"Future"**
Meanwhile, some political circles interpreted Jumblatt's remarks against the party as an attempt to appeal to the Future Movement's electorate in Beirut, Shouf, and Western Bekaa to maintain seats there. Sources within the Movement told "Al-Jumhuriya": "The Movement is not concerned with the ongoing discourse exchanged between the election parties. The Movement confirmed and continues to affirm that it is not a party in these elections, having defined its stance by not participating in them, neither in nomination nor voting; thus, it is not concerned with any of the candidates, nor is it aligned with any of them. This is the Movement's fixed decision, and all those betting on changing it will fail. The Movement is distant from the elections but is not involved in any calls for a boycott of these elections."
**The Fund and "Capital Control"**
On another front, as official work resumes post-Easter holiday, the legislative council on Tuesday witnessed a second round of discussions on the "capital control" law during a session scheduled for joint parliamentary committees, with expectations leaning towards its approval despite some dissenting voices. Also, amidst the internal consensus on the importance of reaching an agreement with the International Monetary Fund, economic officials reported contentment from an official within the Fund regarding recent advancements between Lebanon and the Fund in reference to the "preliminary agreement." Nonetheless, they remain cautious concerning the Lebanese side. According to the economic officials, the Fund awaits the government to fulfill its commitments to expedite the agreement on a cooperation program between Lebanon and the IMF, noting positive signals in recent negotiations with the Lebanese side, as well as the government and Prime Minister Najib Mikati's push towards this goal, in addition to the parliamentary approach regarding the "capital control" bill. A Fund official stated, "If Lebanon presents what is required of it promptly, the cooperation program's agreement may take merely a few short weeks to finalize and sign."
**"Amal" Movement**
In this context, the "Amal" Movement argued that opening the door to a preliminary agreement with the IMF necessitates the actual commencement of an economic and social recovery plan and preparing legislative bills. The Parliament has confirmed its readiness to accompany these efforts. In a statement from its political office yesterday, it reiterated that any capital control project must prioritize preserving depositors' rights and not compromising them. They expressed astonishment at the "state of disarray the country is experiencing due to the government's lack of strategic vision and the inability to establish collaborative work mechanisms among ministries to exit the tunnel of acute crises caused by a patchwork policy across all sectors." The ongoing living and economic crises continue to strike at the livelihoods and dignified lives of the people, with all government decisions remaining mere ink on paper and having not deterred any trader or monopolist.
In a different area, "Amal" renewed its call for the parliamentary elections to serve as a referendum on national projects and options, urging voters to participate en masse in the elections in all electoral districts across Lebanon. It also called for the completion of logistical and operational preparations for the elections, especially in the diaspora.
**$3 Million**
Internationally, the U.S. Treasury announced that "a terrorist from Hezbollah carried out a suicide truck bombing in front of the U.S. embassy in Beirut in April 1983, resulting in the deaths and injuries of over 80 individuals." They stated via the "Rewards for Justice" account on Twitter: "You could receive a reward of up to $3 million if you have information that helps prevent such attacks or assists in bringing previous perpetrators to justice."
